Systemic arterio-venous thrombosis in COVID-19: A pictorial review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Systemic complications include cardiovascular, neurological, hepatic, renal and altered coagulation. Derangements in haemostasis with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been termed COVID-19 associated coagulopathy (CAC). CAC is postulated to be one of the significant causes for sudden deaths in this pandemic, with infection of endothelial cells and subsequent endotheliitis through angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors playing a key role in the pathogenesis. In this pictorial review, we describe the imaging findings in a multitude of extrapulmonary arterial (aorta, cerebral, mesenteric, renal and peripheral arterial system) and venous thrombotic phenomena detected on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of COVID-19 patients which could not be attributed to any other causes. Knowledge of incidence of these complications, lowering the threshold for diagnostic imaging in symptomatic patients and timely radiological detection can play a vital role in subsequent management of these critically ill patients.